Improvement in apparatus for signaling



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. H. COLOMB.

Signal Apparatus.

Patented Aug.. 9, 1864.-

- 2 Sheets-'Sheet 2. P. H. COLOMB.

Signal Apparatus.

N. warms. Pxmwmpugmyner. wmningw". n. c.

UNITED STATES PHILIP HOWARD COLOMB, OF FULHAM, COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND.

PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR SIGALING..

Speciicaiion forming part of Letters Patent No. 43,763, dated August 9, 1864.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, PHILIP HOWARD Co- LoMB, formerly of Her Majestys Dockyard, Devonport, in the county ofDevon, lieutenant in the ltoyal Navy, and now of Fulham in the county oi Middlesex, Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, commander in the Navy of Her Britannie Majesty, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Arrangements and Apparatus for Signaling, andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon. 4

This invention is applicable for the purpose of communicating signals between vessels at sea and the shore, and for signaling from one position to another upon land, whether the latter be for military or other purposes. The principle of its action consists in the employment, for night-signals, of hashes of light separated by intervals of darkness, such hashes being of varying duration, and a certain number of long or short hashes, or the combination of a certain number of long with a certain number of short hashes being taken to represent a certain number, letter, or other distin guishing character of any recognized or prearranged code of signals. By the use of long and short hashes of light, as described, I am enabled to make a much greater number of distinct signals With the same number'of alternate hashes of light and intervals of darkness and Withless liability to errors of observation than if flashes of equal length only were employed. Thus, for some signals I may em ploy one or more short hashes, for others one or more long hashes. Then one or more short hashes followed by one or more long hashes; or one or more long hashes followed by one or more short hashes, and so on, varying the number, order, and combination of the hashes, and assigning to each number, order, and combination of hashes its particular meaning in the code. In order that the long and short hashes required may be readily and correctly produced and repeated at proper intervals during any length of time, until the sanne shall have been duly seen and acknowledged from all the ships or stations within sight or range of their inhuence, I make use of a cylindrical or other formed barrel, or of an endless belt,

chain, or other equivalent or suitable arrangement provided with one or more seri( s of pins, projections, depressions, or holes, which,upon

the barrel, belt, chain, or other arrangement l number or marks -ot the signal represented.

Where the signals of a code are distinguished by numbers, I employ (upon or in the barrel, endless belt, chain, or other arrangement) as many` series of pins, projections, depressions, or holes as there arel hgures in the highest number ot' the code. Each of these series consists ot' ten distinct rows or sctsof pins, projections, depressions, or holes, the hist one being calculated to act upon the cover of the signallightso as to make the signal l, the second to signal 2, and so on up to 9, and the remaining set to' make the signal O. The several series are arranged so that one series will have' passed out of action, leaving a marked space of time bet'ore 'a vsecond series will have commenced act ing. It' it be now understood that the several levers or other parts appertaining to cach series ot' pins, projections, depressions, or holes, and intended for conveying motion to the cover of the light, can be placed so as to be acted upon by any one of the ten sets of each series, it will be easily seen that any number not comprising a greater number ot' hgures than the machine is calculated for may be readily signaled, and that it will only be necessary to continue the machine in motion in order to continually repeat the signal. Thus, supposing the number t0 be signaled is 394, onelever or other connection (whereby motion is given to the cover) is placed so as to 'be acted upon by set 3 ofthe first series, another by set 9 ofthe second series, and a third by set 4 of the third series. It is obvious that on now Working the machine the signal 394 will be continually repeated as long as the working continues. The machine may in like manner be arranged to suit any other kind of code or system of signals, or, if found desirable, it may be made capable of workin g either oftwo or more codes or systems, or a code or system and various special signals, as required. 'For day-signals, the same system ot' apparatus may be modified and arranged, so as to regulate the opening and closing of suitable shutters or doors, the expansion and contraction or collapse of large balls or cones, or other easily-seen movement or movements of any suitable forms or bodies.

' In order to enableV others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe itsconstruction and opera' tion.

Figure l, Sheet 1, oftheaccompanying sheets ot' drawings (which form a part of this speciiication) is a general plan of one arrangement of the machine l employ for the purpose of giving motion to the cover ot' the signal-light at proper intervals, as hcreinbefore explained; Fig. 2, an end elevationl ofthe same, partly in section, having a portion of the framing re` moved for the purpose of more clearly showing the several working parts and Fig. 3, an elevation ot' the contrary end of the machine, showing the levers to be connected with and employed for giving motion to the cover of the light, as further illustratedat Fig. 4, which Vrepresents asimilar view' ot' the machine,

drawn to a reduced scale, and shows the manner in which the levers are connected with the cover. Figs. 5 and 6 represent the system of projections made use of for producing various signals.

The same letters ot' reference are made use of to identify the same parts in all the views.

The working-barrel a ot' the machine is fixed upon a shaft, b, supported and free to revolve in bearings formed in the end framing, c, ofthe machine. 'Upon the shat't b is also keyed a wormrwheel, d, actuated by a worm,

. e, formed upon the shaft f', working in bearings at f, and capable of being caused to revolve by means of the winch handle g.

Upon the barrel a are tive series ot' projections, L, It', h2, h3, and h4, the series h intended to act upon the lever arrangement for signaling the unit tigures, the series 71/ to act in like manner for signaling the tens, the series h2 for the hundreds,- and the series h3 for signaling thousands. The remaining series, h4, in like manner actuates the levers so as to make any required one out ot"v the special signals, to each of which is assigned a particular significance, according to the code adopted.

In front of the barrel a, and parallel to its axis, is a square shaft, t', supported in bearings formed in the framing c and carrying levers j, j', jg, i3, and j4, capable ot' being moved into various positions along its length, and having jointed to them the pieces 7c, kf, k2, 7c3, and 7a4, which `take into notches formed in the ilat bar VL, and are held therein by springs m, attached to the levers j; Upon the end of the shaft (which is capable ot' partial rotation in its bearings) is iixed a lever, a, jointed by a link at o to another lever, p, having its fulcrum at p', to which is attached the cord q, passing over pulleysg, as shown-at Fig. 4, and carrying the cover fr, whereby the light of the signal-lamp s is obscured. Each-ot' the notches in the bar l is situated opposite to one of the rows of projections uponthe barrel a., and each notch is numbered to 4correspond with the signal to be produced by the row otl projections to which it is opposite. This being understood, and also that the four series ot' numbers represent, respectively, units, tens, hundreds, and thousands, the action of the machine will be easily understood.

In the code ot' signals for which the machine is arranged the numeral l is represented by one short flash or exposure of the light; 2, by two suoli short ilashes; 3, by three such short ilashes; 4, by four such short flashes; 5by live such flashes; 6, by one long tlash or exposure of thelight; 7, by one short followed by one long flash; 8, by one long followed by one short flash; 9, by two short succeeded by one longiiash; and the cipher o, by one long sue- `ceedcd by two short flashes. Now, let it be required to signal the number 394. The piece k", which is jointed to the lever j?, is pulled backward out of the notch wherein it is shown, and the lever is moved along theL shaft tto the notch 3 of the series h2, as shown in red lines. The leverj is in like manne-r moved into the position 9 of the series h, and the leverj into the'position 4 of the series h, as'likewise shown in red. The levers ja and j* not being required, remain out of action, as shown. On the barrel being now caused to revolve in the direction of the arrows, the three projections opposite to notch 3 of the series h2 will successively come into con tact with the leverjz, thereby depressing it three times, and at each depression raising the cover r, and as often momentarily exposing the' light of' the lamp s. and making the signal 3 as required. rEhe circumference of the barrel a being divided into equal divisions, each occupied by one series only ot projections, a marked interval will now ela-psc during which the rotary movement of the barrel will leave the cover r undisturbed. This interval marks the termina-tion Iot' the flashes representing the first figure ot' the signal. The continued revolution ot' the barrel then successively brings the three projections representing 9 of the series h into contact with the lever jf. Two of these projections bein gshort and the third of considerable length, successively act upon the lever j", thus raising the cover r and exposing the light during three corresponding periods of time, thus signaling the second numeralv required. A marked in-y terval then again occurs before the rotation of the barrel brings the projections 4 of the'series h into action upon the lever j for making'the signal 4, which, consisting of four short dashes, is made by a corresponding number of short projections upon the barrel. The levers ja and )'45 not being required'for the signal made, are kept out of action by notches so situated that the ends of the levers are clear of the course of any of the projections. r

1t will be obvious to any competent mechanic that `the projections made use of in the machine described tor acting upon the cover of the lainp may be substituted by depressiors or holes, as also that a belt or chain, formed or provided with suitable projcctions, depressions, or holes, may be employed instead of the barrel for giving motion to the cover.

In Sheet 2 are represented some arrangements which may conveniently be employedv for day-signaling in connection with the before-mentioned apparatus. In these cases the ilash of the night-signal is replaced by the display of a conspicuous opaque figure, the appearance and total or partial disappearance of which is regulated by the working ot' the apparatus in the saine manner as the raising` ofthe cover of the light is regulated for the purpose of night-signalin g.

'Ihe arrangement represented by Figs. 1, 2, 3, andtconsists of a series ot' shutters or boards, t, turning upon centers, so as to be capable of being set either edgewise 'or with their sides toward the observer.

Fig. 1 is a front view showing the shutters open or presenting their edges to the observer; Fig. 2, a section through the line A of Fig. 1, Fig. 3, a 'rontl view showing the shutters closed, and Figt a section through the line B ot` Fig. 3.

In order to work the shutters, the cord q, attached to the lever p ot' the machine, is in this case connected with a bar, a, whereby its movement is communicated to the shutters, so as to close them and thus render the signaldisk distinctly visible at each depression of the lever p. rIhe reopening ofthe shutters is effected by aspring which acts upon and raises the bar u the moment it ceases to be held down by the lever p. Y

Figs. 5 and 6 represent a hollow cone formed of sail cloth or other suitable material, and so arranged as, in its normal position (shown at Fig. 5) to present only a comparatively small surface, but when expanded or drawn out, as at Fig. 6, to be clearly visible at a considerable distance. v

The drawing out or elongation ofthe cone, which answers to the exposure of the light in the night-signals, is effected by the cord q, attached to the lever p, as the closing of the shutters was in the previous arrangement.

Figs. 7 and 8 represent an arrangement having the form of a fan, which, when closed, appears as at Fig. 7, but when opened by the action of the cord g (attached to the lever p, as before) takes the form represented by Fig. 8.

Figs. 9 and 10 are corresponding views of an arrangement of semaphore, (which may be suspended or fixed in any convenient situation,) the arms ot' which hang down, as at Fig. 9,but by the drawing down of the cord q are instantly thrown out horizontally, as shown at Fig. 10.

Figs. l1 and 12 represent a kind of bellowsformed collapsible drum, the normal position two subscribing witnesses.

of which is as at Fig. 11, but which on being acted upon by the cord q is expanded to the form shown at Fig. 12.

Figs. 13 and 14 represent aframe, on which a flag or banner is displayed by the drawing down of the cord q.

I am fully aware that long and short flashes or exposures ot light, and long and short indications ot' other kinds, have been used by others for signaling purposes prior to the date of the Letters Patent ot' the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle ot' Man, granted to me and bearing date the 7th day of `May, in the year of our Lord 1862, and I do notlay claim to the first invention of such long and short dashes or indications for those purposes.

rIlhe novelty of my invention consists in the employment of a means as` or substantially similar to that described for producing any required series or succession of such long and short dashes or indications, and for repeating the saine over and over again as often as may be found necessary or desirable; and

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The use for night-signaling of a light or lights shown or exposed during varying periods of time, regulated as described.

2. The use for day-signaling of an opaque or other clearly visible body or bodies shown or exposed during varying periods of time, regulated as described.

3. The use for the purposes described of a notched bar or other equivalent arrangement for enabling the levers or other connections whereby motion is imparted from the pins, projections, depressions, or holes, to be adjusted so as to be acted upon by the required sets of projections, depressions, or holes, or to-be thrown out of action, as required.

4. rIhe employment of levers, or equivalent parts, adjustable endwise upon an angular or other bar, for thepurpose of imparting the motionreceived from the projections, depressions, or holes, so as to regulate the appearance and disappearance or expansion and contraction or change of position or form of the signaling object or objects.

5. The use .of a drum, endless belt, chain, or equivalent arrangement, provided with projections, depressions, or holes, and capable of being driven with a continuous motion for the purpose of regulating the appearance and disappearance, expansion and contraction, or change of position or form ot' iigures or objects used in signaling.

- In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence or" I). 1I. COLOMB. Witnesses:

FRANors WIsE,

W. LLOYDv WISE. 

